Orji, Sherrone Moore, No. 18 Michigan Upset No. 11 USC; Mullings Hailed by CFB Fans

Kalel Mullings ran 17 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns—including the game-winner with 37 seconds remaining—to lead No. 18 Michigan to a 27-24 home victory over No. 11 USC.

Mullings scored on 4th-and-1 from the USC one-yard line to put Michigan up for good.

He accounted for 84 yards on eight touches on their final scoring drive, including a 63-yard carry that turned a 3rd-and-1 from the Michigan 20 into a 1st-and-10 on the USC 17.

USC got the ball for a last-ditch effort to respond but turned the ball over on downs.

Mullings put Michigan on the scoreboard first with a 53-yard scamper in the first quarter.

Donovan Edwards added a 41-yard run to help Michigan out to a 14-0 second-quarter lead.

That was Michigan's last offensive touchdown until the final minute of the game. USC got a Michael Lantz 29-yard field goal in the second quarter to get on the board. Trojans quarterback Miller Moss went to work in the second half, though, first finding Duce Robinson for a nine-yard touchdown.

However, Moss then threw a pick-six to Will Johnson, and Michigan took a 20-10 lead.

USC then appeared to commit another brutal turnover when Moss fumbled on the Michigan nine-yard line after a Josaiah Stewart sack. Kenneth Grant took the ball and ran but fumbled it back to USC on the Wolverine 27 after a Woody Marks strip.

Two plays later, Moss hit Jay Fair for 16 yards and a touchdown.

The two teams then traded punts twice apiece before Edwards fumbled the ball away on Michigan's 18-yard line.

USC's Eric Gentry recovered. The Trojans got temporarily set back with offensive holding, but three plays later, Moss connected with Ja'Kobi Lane for a 24-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-16.

Both teams traded punts again, but Michigan's ground attack came through when the team needed it most, and that proved to be the difference.

The Wolverines rushed for 290 yards and three touchdowns, overcoming a tough day from the passing game. Quarterback Alex Orji notably completed just 7-of-12 passes for 32 yards.

USC got the ball moving on the ground (Marks had 100 rushing yards on 13 carries) and in the air as well (Moss finished 28-of-51 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one pick). But the Trojan defense's inability to stop the Mullings-led run game, coupled with the costly pick-six, proved to be the difference.

Afterward, Mullings gave credit to his team in a postgame interview.

Ultimately, Mullings was the hero, and analysts and fans praised his phenomenal closing efforts.

The 3-1 Wolverines will next face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday.